Cork-cutting machine



(No Model.)

P. L. BLAIR. Cork-Cutting Machines. No. 228,439. v Patented June 8,1880.

96H eH @9- 6 nesses {WW Z [Izaak/2'0 'aQw/M M 5 Mm Warren {STATES PATENTQrrrca FRANK L. BLAIR, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CORK-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,439, dated June 8,18 80,

Application filed March 18, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. BLAIR, of Allegheny city, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Outting the Ends of Corks; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved cork-cutting machine, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention consists of a machine for cutting corks of irregularlengths to a uniform length.

In the manufacture of cork-blanks-that is, the cylindrical blanks ofcork-wood of which tapering stoppers of bottles are made-the scraps ofthe cork-wood are utilized by passing them through the cork-cuttingmachines. The result is the formation of cork-blanks of varying lengthsand of cork-blanks having defective ends. In order to fit these for useit is necessary to cut them a uniform length. Some portions will makecorks of greater length than others, and so the gage of the machine mustbe changed to suit the various lengths into which these corks can beout. They are first sorted in accordance with their various sizes, andthen the gage of the machine is set accordingly.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow describe its construction and mode of operation.

Upon a suitable frame, a, is a circular disk or knife, I), mounted on anarbor, c, which is provided with a pulley, c, for applying power to it.Upon the same frame a, and within the range of the knife I), is acircular head, (I, mounted on the shaft 6, which is provided with apulley, c. In the periphery of the head cl there are a series ofgrooves, f, the front sides of which are beveled oif, as at f. On theinner side of the head (I is a disk, g, between which and the head is aslot or space, 9, in which the knife rotates. Extending up between thearbor of the knife and the headdis a curved guide, h, which is attachedto a rod,

(No model.)

It, upon a suitable part of the frame of the machine, on which itisadjustable by nuts If. This guide extends back over the front portion ofthe head cl in such a position that it covers the grooves f as they turntoward the rotating knife. Attached to the frame of the machine by meansof a bolt passing through a slot in it is a' movable gage, i, whichextends out straight from the side, and then runs up along the outersideof the head (I opposite the grooves f. This gage is semicircular inform, and extends far enough around the head to afford a bearing for theend of the cork while it is undergoing the cutting action of the knife.It is adjustable by means of a screw-bolt and slot, 6. The shaft uponwhich the head revolves is adjustable to and from the knife by means ofslots and bolts 0 Extending from below the front part of the head (I aretwo' troughs, one, It, to carry off the refuse ends of the corks, andthe other, I, to carry off the corks as they are delivered from thehead. In side of the head d is a spring-holder, m, which presses againstthe end of the cork and holds it in position against the gage i.

The operation of my machine is as follows, viz: The corks to be trimmedare placed by the attendant, one by one, in the grooves f as the head (Irotates. The rotation of the head carries the cork in under the curvedholder m and guide It, The spring-holder m holds the cork up against thegage i, and the guide It holds it securely in position upon the face ofthe head (I as it is carried into and exposed to the operation of theknife. The knife severs the end which projects beyond the slot 9 in thehead, and the severed end falls down into the trough is, while the cork,being carried on around by the head, is discharged into the trough landfalls into a suitable receptacle. The gage i may bemoved out for thepurposeof accommodating a longer cork, and" the curved guide It may beadjusted to suit any thickness of cork. In case of the wear of the knifeand its consequent reduction of diameter, the shaft 0 may be movedtoward it to compensate for such wear.

For corks of greater or less thickness, heads (1, having grooves f ofcorresponding size, may be substituted for the head (I.

The disk 9 constitutes a part of the head d,

and aflords support for the outer end of the cork While being cut, andprevents its being bent down by the knife and cut angling. This is avery material feature, owing to the soft and flexible nature of thecork.

The advantages of my machine are the precision and quickness of itsoperation and the saving in cork-wood efl'ected by the ability to cutthe corks all of any desired gage.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for removing the ends of corks, a rotating head havingtransverse grooves on its periphery for the reception of corks and acircular slot for the reception of the periphery of a rotatingcutting-disk, in combination with a springholder arranged to cover theends of the cork-grooves upon one side of the head and an adjustablegage upon FRANK L. BLAIR.

WVitnesses T. B. KERR, JAMES A. MoKEAN.

